AMERICAN LEGION & VFW JOIN $200,000 GIVEAWAY PROGRAM TO RESCUE AILING
WWI MEMORIALS

WASHINGTON DC: The two largest veterans groups in the United States, the
American Legion and the Veterans Of Foreign Wars (VFW), with a combined
membership of 3,700,000, have signed on to support a national initiative
designed to rescue ailing World War I memorials.

The program, 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS was created by the U.S. World War
I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library in
Chicago, IL. as a $200,000 matching-grant challenge for groups who
undertake the restoration, preservation or conservation of local World
War I memorials.

After World War I, thousands of memorials were erected across the
country to honor the local veterans who served. 100 years later, many of
these memorials are in need of restoration or repair.

"Many of these memorials were originally established by local American
Legion and VFW posts in those communities, and so it is fantastic to
have these same organizations join in our effort to repair, conserve and
restore our WW1 American heritage”, explained Dan Dayton, Executive
Director of the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission.

"The American Legion was founded by the veterans of World War I, and
these leaders left us a legacy of honoring all who served", stated
Commissioner John Monahan, who was recently appointed to the World War I
Centennial Commission by the American Legion leadership.

Commissioner Debra Anderson agreed.“This project allows us to take
action at the local level in communities across the country to bring
attention to those who served and remind our communities of their
heritage and debt that we owe those veterans." Anderson is the
Quartermaster General for the VFW, and is also a Commissioner with the
World War I Centennial Commission.

The 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS program launched in July, 2016, and the
grant application period runs until June 15, 2017.

To help local Legion and VFW Post members to undertake World War I
memorial projects, the 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS website at
ww1cc.org/100Memorials has lots of information and resources that
are specially-tailored to Legion and VFW regional and local posts. Local
posts can also contact their national headquarters for additional
support.

For more information about the 100 CITIES/100 MEMORIALS preservation
program, go to ww1cc.org/100Mmemorials

Information on the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission can be found
at www.ww1cc.org

Information about the Pritzker Military Museum and Library can be found
at www.pritzkermilitary.org/WW1

Information about the American Legion can be found at www.legion.org 

Information about the VFW can be found at http://www.vfw.org/